Semiculotte skirt

ABSTRACT

,1 A semiculotte skirt which is wrapped around the body of the wearer such that it passes in front of the right leg to the back of the wearer, between the legs to the front of the wearer and around the front of the left leg to the back of the wearer.

United States Patent Yolande Saint-Arnaud Inventor 3255 Ridgewood Ave. Apt. #6, Montreal 247, Quebec, Canada Appl. No. 817,325 Filed Apr. 18, 1969 Patented Sept. 14, 1971 Priority Jan. 31, 1969 Canada 41,709

SEMICULOTTE SKIRT 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 2/212 A4lc 1/14 2/2l2,2l3,

wearer such that it passes in front of the right leg to the back of the wearer, between the legs to the front of the wearer and around the front of the left leg to the back of the wearer.

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ORNEY SEMICULOTTE SKIRT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The standard short and mini skirts of any width do not allow enough freedom of movement without violating good taste.

The standard long, slim skirt hampers leg and hip movement unless it is indecently slit up to the level of the groin.

The standard long, wide skirt allows limited freedom of movement for legs and hips within the circumference of the hem, but the wearer must be careful not to step on her own skirt while walking up stairs, sitting down, dancing, etc. Most important of all is the fact that the wearer cannot, if she so wishes, show off her legs without ungraciously pulling up her skirt.

Although it solves the problem of freedom of movement for the legs and the hips, the culotte skirt has four main disadvantages.

Firstly, a simple culotte skirt necessitates as much fabric and workmanship as is required for the production of pants of equal length. The more flattering style of culotte skirt with pleating'at the center back and/or front calls for more fabric and more intricate workmanship than is required for pants of equal length.

Secondly, a culotte skirt is not flattering to a woman whose figure is not slim, because the center back parting of the eulotte skirt tends to accentuate unbecomingly the volume of her posterior.

Thirdly, since the culotte skirt looks like pants, it often cannot be worn where pants are not accepted.

Fourthly, although it claims to be a skirt, the culotte skirt looks too masculine and too sporty to be a skirt.

Wearing a slit skirt or shift over a separate culotte is another alternative to the skirt-plus-pants combination, but, needless to say, this combination is more expensive to manufacture and more complicated.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a skirtlike garment comprising an upper portion shaped to fit the waist and hips of the wearer, and an interior partition passing between the legs of the wearer and in front of one leg and behind the other leg.

The present invention also provides a blank for a skirt comprising a rectangle formed by a hem line and a waist line being parallel to each other, and a front closing overlap edge and a back closing overlap edge at right angles to the hem line and waist line, a hip line parallel to and spaced from said waist line a distance equal to the actual measurement between the waist line and hip line of the wearer, a groin line parallel to and spaced from said waist line a distance equal to the actual measurement between the waistline at center front and the groin level of the wearer, measured without contouring, a center crotch line at right angles to said hem line and defining the approximate center of said rectangle, a center front of culotte line parallel to and spaced from said center crotch line by a distance equal to approximately one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement and on the same side of the center crotch line as the back closing overlap edge, a center back of culotte line parallel to and spaced from said center crotch line by a distance equal to approximately one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement on the same side of the center crotch line as the front closing overlap edge, a first crotch line joining the point at which the center front of culotte line meets the waist line, with the point at which the center crotch line meets the groin line, a second crotch line joining the point at which the center back of culotte line meets the waistline, with the joint at which the center crotch line meets the groin line, a left-side line parallel to and spaced from the center front of culotte line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual hip measurement, a right-side line parallel to and spaced from the center back of culotte line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual hip measurement, a center back of skirt line parallel to and spaced from the leftside line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual hip measurement, the distance between said center back of skirt line and the back closing overlap edge being the back overlap allowance, a center front line of skirt parallel to and spaced from the right-side line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual hip measurement, the distance between said center front of skirt line and the front closing overlap edge being the front overlap allowance.

This garment, the semiculottc skirt, unmistakable looks like a skirt, and yet possesses 'the concealed coverage and advantages of a culotte. It is as feminine and as flattering as a skirt, and as functional as a culotte.

Whether long, short, slim or wide, the semiculotte skirt allows the legs to move in and out freely, graciously and decorously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following is a description by way of example of certain embodiments of the present invention, reference being had to accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents the basic seamless one main piece blank for a semiculotte skirt.

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view of the semiculotte skirt illustrating the manner in which it is wrapped around the wearer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The basic seamless one main piece blank for a semiculottc skirt shown in FIG. 1 is described immediately below.

Full lines indicate cutting lines of the blank or block and broken lines indicate construction lines of the blank.

Seam or hem allowances are not included in the blank unless otherwise stated.

Shading denotes wrong side of garment.

The blank can be cut in one piece, lengthwise on a 54 inches wide fabric, only when the hip measurement or the hem circumference does not exceed 38 inches. This restriction is subject to change when the waist diameter and the overlap allowance are taken into consideration.

The hem line 1 is drawn, equal in length to the desired hem circumference (not exceeding 38 inches if blank is to be cut in one main piece lengthwise on 54 inches wide fabric), plus the diameter of the actual waist measurement, plus the width of overlap both at center front and at center back.

Halfway on hem line 1, and perpendicular to it, the center crotch line 2 is drawn upwards, its length being equal to the desired length of thesemiculotte skirt.

Waist line 3 is drawn parallel to hem line 1, its shortest distance from hem line I being equal to the length of center crotch line 2. The length of waist line 3 is equal to that of hem line 1, and is divided equally on each side of center crotch line 2. Waist line 3 may have to be lowered or raised at various places, depending on different body shapes, or a desired effeet.

The right extremities of hem line 1 and of waist line 3 are joined by a straight line 4 (hereinafter referred to as the back closing overlap edge 4).

The left extremities of hem line 1 and of waist line 3 are joined by a straight line 5 (hereinafter referred to as the front closing overlap edge 5).

A rectangle has now been formed.

A straight line 6 (hereinafter referred to as the hip line 6) is drawn parallel to waist line 3, and runs from back closing overlap edge 4 to front closing overlap edge 5. The distance between hip line 6 and waist line 3 is equal to the distance between the actual waistline and hipline and varies according to the size of the wearer.

The distance between points 7 and 8 on waist line 3 is equal to the diameter of the actual waist measurement (the actual waist measurement divided by 3.1416).

Point 7 being one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement to one side of the point where center crotch line 2 meets waist line 3 and point 8 being one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement on the other side.

A straight line 9 (hereinafter referred to as the center front of culotte line 9) is drawn perpendicular to waist line 3, starting at point 7, and ending at hem line I.

A straight line 10 (hereinafter referred to as the center back ofculotte line 10) is drawn perpendicular to waist line 3, starting at point 8, and ending at hem line 1.

A straight line 11 (hereinafter referred to as the groin level line 11) is drawn parallel to hem line 1 and runs from back closing overlap edge 4 to front closing overlap edge 5. The distance between groin level line 11 and waist line 3 is equal to the distance between the center of the actual waistline at the middle front and the level of the groin, measured vertically, and without contouring.

Crotch lines 12a and 12b represents the crotch measurement taken from the center of the actual waistline at the front to the center of the actual waistline at the back, passing between the legs.

Starting at point 7 on waist line 3, crotch line 12a is drawn straight down on center front of culotte line 9 approximately halfway between waist line 3 and groin line 11. From this last point, crotch line 12a curves in towards a point (hereinafter referred to as point 13) where groin level line ll meets center crotch line 2, or so close to point 13 on center crotch line 2 as the halfway mark of crotch lines 12a and 12b permits.

The same procedure is used to draw the other half of crotch line 12b from point 13 approximately, to point 8, as is used to draw the first crotch line 12a from point 7 to point 13 approximately.

A straight line 14 (hereinafter referred to as the left-side line 14) is drawn parallel to center front of culotte line 9 between hem line 1 and waist line 3. The distance between left-side line 14 and center front of culotte line 9 is equal to one-fourth of the actual hip measurement.

A straight line 15 (hereinafter referred to as the right-side line 15) is drawn parallel to center back of culotte line 10 between hem line 1 and waist line 3. The distance between right-side line 15 and center back line ofculotte I0 is equal to one-fourth of the actual hip measurement.

A straight line 16 (hereinafter referred to as the center back of skirt line 16) is drawn parallel to left-side line 14 between hem line 1 and waist line 3. The distance between center back of skirt line 16 and left-side line 14 is equal to one-fourth of the actual hip measurement.

The back overlap allowance is contained inside the rectangle bordered by center back of skirt line 16, part of hem line 1, back closing overlap edge 4, and part of waist line 3. The width of the back overlap allowance is optional.

A straight line 17 (hereinafter referred to as the center front of skirt line 17) is drawn parallel to right-side line 15 between hem line 1 and waist line 3. The shortest distance between the center front of skirt line 17 and right-side line 15 is equal to one-fourth of the actual hip measurement.

The front overlap allowance is contained inside the rectangle bordered by center front line ofskirt 17, part of hem line 1, front closing overlap edge 5, and part of waist line 3. The width of the front overlap allowance is optional.

It is to be noted that left-side line 14 and right-side line 15 may be displaced at will.

A straight line 18 (hereinafter referred to as the front closing line 18) is drawn parallel to center front line of culotte 9 between hem line 1 and waist line 3. The distance between front closing line 18 and center front line of culotte 9 is equal to the distance between center front line of skirt 17 and front closing overlap edge 5.

A straight line 19 (hereinafter referred to as the back closing line 19) is drawn parallel to center back line of culotte 10 between hem line 1 and waist line 3. The distance between back closing line 19 and center back line of culotte 10 is equal to the distance between center back of skirt line 16 and back closing overlap edge 4.

Darts, gathers, tucks, folds, pleats, etc., can be used to reduce Waist Line 3 (exclusive of the overlapping allowances contained between back closing overlap edge 4 and center back of skirt line 16 and between front closing overlap edge 5 and center front of skirt line 17) to the actual waistline measurement. Waist line 3 may be finished with a waist band or facing.

To hem the one main piece semiculotte skirt, allowance should be made for a hem below and parallel to hem line IV This hem allowance is then cut vertically upwards to the point where center crotch line 2 meets hem line 1. The hem allowance for the right half of the pattern is turned under and the hem allowance for the left half of the pattern is turned over.

The semiculotte skirt is fastened at the front by bringing together front closing overlap edge 5 and front closing line 18. Thus the center front of skirt line 17 and center front of culotte 9 are superimposed.

The semiculotte skirt is fastened at the back by bringing together back closing overlap edge 4 and back closing line 19. Thus center back of skirt line 16 and center back of culotte line 10 are superimposed.

The semiculotte skirt may be fastened only at the waist back and the waist front if desired. It can also be fastened at the front and/or back by closing it down to approximately the groin level line 11 along front closing line 18 and/or back closing line [9.

Buttons, snaps, hooks, zippers, ties, lacing, are some of the types of fastenings which can be used.

Hem line 1, front closing overlap edge 5, back closing overlap edge 4, waist line 3 and crotch lines 12a and 12b may be finished with self-facing, separate facing, bias strip, decorative braid; or to taste.

The basic seamless one main piece blank for the semiculotte skirt can be sectioned at will. For example, it can be cut vertically along center crotch line 2, along center front of the eulotte line 9, center back of the culotte line 10, right-side line 15, or left-side line 14. The sectioned blank is best utilized when a fabric with a nap, pile, shading or one sided design is used, or when it is desired to use a narrow fabric.

The semiculotte skirt can be joined to a bodice by means of a seam or seams in order to form a dress, or it can be cut all in one piece with a bodice to also form a dress.

The semiculotte skirt can be self-lined by placing hem line 1, or waist line 3 if the latter is a straight line, on a fold of fabric and by cutting into a double thickness of fabric. This is ideal for lightweight fabrics which would otherwise have to be lined. An economy of fabric (when accounting for hem allowances on both the garment and the lining) and of labor is realized.

FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which the semiculotte skirt is wrapped around the wearer's body. From a study of FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the semiculotte is formed of four basic portions as follows:

An upper portion shaped to fit the waist and hips of the wearer.

A partition portion 21 which is formed of that part of the blank between the center front of culotte line 9 and the center back of culotte line 10. This portion passes between the legs 22 and 23 of the wearer.

A first portion comprising section 24 which is formed of that part of the blank between center back of culotte line 10 and right-side line 15 and which passes behind right leg 22 and section 25 which is that part of the blank between right-side line 15 and front closing overlap edge 5 and which continues around to the front of the wearer.

A second portion comprising section 26 which is formed by that part of the blank between the center front of culotte line 9 and the left-side line 14 and passes in front of left leg 23 of the wearer and section 27 which is that part of the blank between left-side line 14 and back closing overlap edge 4 and which continues around to the back of the wearer.

The front overlap allowance contained between the center front of skirt line 17 and the front overlap edge 5 overlaps the These two portions may be fastened to each other at the meeting of the front overlap edge 5 and the front closing line 18 and again at the meeting of the center front of skirt line 17 and the center front of culotte line 9.

The fastenings may be just at the waist or may extend down to the groin line or further if desired.

The back overlap allowance contained between center back of skirt line 16 and back closing overlap edge 4 overlaps the area defined by the center back of culotte line and the back closing line 19. The two portions may be fastened to each other at the meeting of the back closing overlap edge 4 and the back closing line 19 and again at the meeting of the center back of skirt line 16 and the center back of culotte line 10. As has been stated before the fastenings may be just at the waist or may extend down to the groin line or further to give the desired effect.

It is apparent that the present invention provides a novel, attractive and very practical garment. The semiculotte type of skirt is adaptable for use with any length of skirt from a very brief mini skirt to a floor length evening dress.

What I claim is:

l. A blank for a skirt comprising a rectangle formed by a hem line and a waist line being parallel to each other, and a front closing overlap edge and a back closing overlap edge at right angles to the hem line and waist line, a hip line parallel to and spaced from said waist line a distance equal to the actual measurement between the waistline and hip line of the wearer, a groin line parallel to and spaced from said waist line a distance equal to the actual measurement between the waistline and the groin of the wearer, a center crotch line at right angles to said hem line and defining the approximate center of said rectangle, a center front of culotte line parallel to and spaced from said center crotch line by a distance equal to approximately one half the diameter of the actual waist measurement and on the same side of the center crotch line as the back closing overlap edge, a center back of culotte line parallel to and spaced from said center crotch line by a distance equal to approximately one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement on the same side of the center crotch line as the front closing overlap edge, a first crotch line joining the point at which the center front of culotte line meets the waist line, with the point at which the center crotch line meets the groin line, a second crotch line joining the point at which the center back of culotte line meets the waist line, with the point at which the center crotch line meets the groin line, a left-side line parallel to and spaced from the center front of culotte line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, a right-side line parallel to and spaced from the center back of culotte line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, a center back of skirt line parallel to and spaced from the leftside line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, the distance between said center back of skirt line and the back'closing overlap edge being the back overlap allowance, a center front line of skirt parallel to and spaced from the right-side line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, the distance between said center front of skirt line and the front closing overlap edge being the front overlap ullowance. t

2. A skirt comprising an upper portion, an interior partition passing between the legs of the wearer, a first portion attached to one end of said interior partition passing around the front of a first leg to the back of the wearer, a second portion attached to the other end of said interior partition passing around the back of the other leg to the front of the wearer, and securing means for holding the skirt in position when worn, said skirt being formed from a blank comprising a rectangle formed by a hem line and a waist line being parallel to each other, and a front closing overlap edge and a back closing overlap edge at right angles to the hem line and waist line, a hip line parallel to and spaced from said waist line a distance equal to the actual measurement between the waist line and hip line of the wearer, a groin line parallel to and spaced from said waist line a distance equal to the actual measurement between the waist line and the groin of the wearer, a center crotch line at right angles to said hem line and defining the approximate center of said rectangle, a center front of culotte line parallel to and spaced from saidcenter crotch line by a distance equal to approximately one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement and on the same side of the center crotch line as the back closing overlap edge, a center back of culotte line parallel to and spaced from said center crotch line by a distance equal to approximately one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement on the same side of the center crotch line as the front closing overlap edge, a first crotch line joining the point at which the center front of culotte line meets the waist line, with the point at which the center crotch line meets the groin line, a second crotch line joining the point at which the center back of culotte line meets the waist line, with the point at which the center crotch line meets the groin line, a left-side line parallel to and spaced from the center front of culotte line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, a right-side line parallel to and spaced from the center back of culotte line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, a center back of skirt line parallel to and spaced from the leftside line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, the distance between said center back of skirt line and the back closing overlap edge being the back overlap allowance, a center front line of skirt parallel to and spaced from the right-side line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, the distance between said center front of skirt line and the front closing overlap edge being the front overlap allowance. 

1. A blank for a skirt comprising a rectangle formed by a hem line and a waist line being parallel to each other, and a front closing overlap edge and a back closing overlap edge at right angles to the hem line and waist line, a hip line parallel to and spaced from said waist line a distance equal to the actual measurement between the waistline and hip line of the wearer, a groin line parallel to and spaced from said waist line a distance equal to the actual measurement between the waistline and the groin of the wearer, a center crotch line at right angles to said hem line and defining the approximate center of said rectangle, a center front of culotte line parallel to and spaced from said center crotch line by a distance equal to approximately one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement and on the same side of the center crotch line as the back closing overlap edge, a center back of culotte line parallel to and spaced from said center crotch line by a distance equal to approximately one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement on the same side of the center crotch line as the front closing overlap edge, a first crotch line joining the point at which the center front of culotte line meets the waist line, with the point at which the center crotch line meets the groin line, a second crotch line joining the point at which the center back of culotte line meets the waist line, with the point at which the center crotch line meets the groin line, a left-side line parallel to and spaced from the center front of culotte line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, a right-side line parallel to and spaced from the center back of culotte line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, a center back of skirt line parallel to and spaced from the left-side line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, the distance between said center back of skirt line and the back closing overlap edge being the back overlap allowance, a center front line of skirt parallel to and spaced from the right-side line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, the distance between said center front of skirt line and the front closing overlap edge being the front overlap allowance.
 2. A skirt comprising an upper portion, an interior partition passing between the legs of the wearer, a first portion attached to one end of said interior partition passing around the front of a first leg to the back of the wearer, a second portion attached to the other end of said interior partition passing around the back of the other leg to the front of the wearer, and securing means for holding the skirt in position when worn, said skirt being formed from a blank comprising a rectangle formed by a hem line and a waist line being parallel to each other, and a front closing overlap edge and a back closing overlap edge at right angles to the hem line and waist line, a hip line parallel to and spaced from said waist line a distance equal to the actual measurement between the waist line and hip line of the wearer, a groin line parallel to and spaced from said waist line a distance equal to the actual measurement between the waist line and the groin of the wearer, a center crotch line at right angles to said hem line and defining the approximate center of said rectangle, a center front of culotte line parallel to and spaced from said center crotch line by a distance equal to approximately one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement and on the same side of the center crotch line as the back closing overlap edge, a center back of culotte line parallel to and spaced from said center crotch line by a distance equal to approximately one-half the diameter of the actual waist measurement on the same side of the center crotch line as the front closing overlap edge, a first crotch line joining the point at which the center front of culotte line meets the waist line, with the point at which the center crotch line meets the groin line, a second crotch line joining the point at which the center back of culotte line meets the waist line, with the point at which the center crotch line meets the groin line, a left-side line parallel to and spaced from the center front of culotte line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, a right-side line parallel to and spaced from the center back of culotte line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, a center back of skirt line parallel to and spaced from the left-side line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, the distance between said center back of skirt line and the back closing overlap edge being the back overlap allowance, a center front line of skirt parallel to and spaced from the right-side line a distance equal to approximately one-fourth of the actual waistline measurement, the distance between said center front of skirt line and the front closing overlap edge being the front overlap allowance. 